{"id":9023,"date":"2014-05-31T08:39:37","date_gmt":"2014-05-31T08:39:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thesojournseries.com\/bavaria\/?p=9023"},"modified":"2014-09-21T10:21:13","modified_gmt":"2014-09-21T10:21:13","slug":"the-nightwatchman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.thesojournseries.com\/bavaria\/the-nightwatchman\/","title":{"rendered":"The Night Watchman"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Yet another Rothenburg post. \u00a0 Yes, I have been to other places in the meantime, but I kind of get a little OCD if I don’t publish every last post I have come up with on a subject, so please bear with… \u00a0 There’s just one more after this (at some point!), honest!<\/p>\n

Hopefully, by now, I have convinced you that Rothenburg is well worth a visit – Romantic Road trip or no Romantic Road trip…<\/p>\n

I hope to an even greater extent that I have convinced you that it is most definitely worth staying too, \u00a0for that’s when you get to experience the Real Rothenburg away from the tourist crowds, and when you really do feel like you have the whole place to yourselves! \u00a0If you do plan on staying, then promise me you will take me up on this next recommendation?<\/p>\n

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Every evening between April and December at 8pm precisely (come rain or shine, and quite possibly deep deep snow), Rothenburg becomes the domain of the Night Watchman… \u00a0 \u00a0Wait for him by the steps of the town hall – you will know you are in the right place as there will be a smattering of tourists that also eagerly wait nearby. \u00a0 And when he does turn up, you can’t possibly mistake him for anyone else – as \u00a0he wields a lantern to guide the way, brandishes a halberd to ward off marauders, and has a large cow horn tied around his neck… \u00a0 And today (as they did in days gone by) he will occasionally use this to herald the announcement of important news (of both the good and bad variety- fires were the main thing to watch out for in medieval times), the time of day, and any other emergencies…<\/p>\n

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I had no idea that there were Night Watchmen in towns such as Rothenburg up until relatively recently (at least up until war time!) but, this Night Watchman<\/a> has controlled this particular patch for the past 23 years…<\/p>\n

After a brief introduction, and a demonstrative blast from said cow-horn you are lead through Rothenburg’s main streets, and lesser known alleyways. \u00a0 And as you follow in his foot-steps listening to his narrative the years fall away, and you really become immersed in the history of your surroundings…<\/p>\n

We studied the defences of the town, including the mighty door in one of the main gates. \u00a0Set into this particular main door is a tiny weeny door built to let in those who missed curfew. \u00a0 Only after answering a few questions correctly would the guards let the miscreant back in, without risking an large scale attack by enemy hoards. \u00a0Everyone oooed and ahhhed at this ingenious medieval thinking, but in the midst of the crowd, a small (Nine Year Old) \u00a0hand popped up, and the owner of which promptly asked why the enemy just couldn’t come in through the small door instead. \u00a0 “Well they could…”, said the Night Watchman brandishing his halberd – no further explanation was necessary…<\/p>\n

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Along the way you will learn all kinds of things from this knowledgeable soul (and may I say at times this knowledge is delivered in a brilliantly droll Monty Python-esque style!), including how the celebrated walls of the town did more to protect the town folk from those intent on taking over this place for themselves (I would be tempted!) – it also kept out disease – in plague times nobody went in or out… \u00a0You could say its walls and buildings saved Rothenburg in more recent times too – people often ask why it’s so well preserved when many other nearby places were raized to the ground during World War II. \u00a0 But I am afraid that’s a story that you must hear from the mouth of the Night Watchman himself… \u00a0 By the way, this is a tour completely suitable for children if history is their cup of cha – it’s funny, educational and interesting too, and was definitely a highlight for both of mine…<\/p>\n

And finally, if you would like robes similar to the Night Watchman, \u00a0might I suggest you pop along to Spitalgasse where you will find a shop selling all sorts of finery (I would give you the name, but it doesn’t appear to have one – you can’t miss it though!) \u00a0 The Small girl spent a happy half hour trying on all kinds of medieval apparel here, and came out with a beautiful hand-made dress and veil bought with the last of her Christmas money. \u00a0 The Seven Year old came out brandishing a (wooden) sword. \u00a0 Rather sweetly the shop owner had also snuck in a couple of hand-made whistles to the swag unbeknownst to me, which they loved. \u00a0Don’t tell them, but I might have preferred the sound of the cow horn…<\/p>\n

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Meeting point – market square in front of town hall at 8pm every day (tour in German at 9.30pm) Price: 7 Euro for adults, children under 12 free of charge.<\/em><\/p>\n

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